Big plays pay off again for No. 15 Providence

No. 15 Providence 28, Minooka 10

It wasn't a score on the first play from scrimmage like last week, but No. 15 Providence still was impressive from the start in a 28-10 victory Friday against visiting Minooka.

Instead of a one-play drive, the Celtics used 11 plays to go 74 yards on their opening series, and Chad Weaver scored from the 1 to begin the march to a 2-0 start despite the absence of injured back Brandon Price (ankle).

While it took a little longer than last week to score, Providence featured a series of big plays. One week after having eight plays of more than 15 yards, the Celtics had seven plays of at least 14 yards in the first half. But they used long, methodical drives to control the game.

"We're just trying to do our best and be as versatile as possible on offense," said quarterback Dominic Lagone, who completed 9 of 10 pass attempts in his second start. "This is exciting, but you're only as good as the next one."

The Celtics were awfully good at controlling the ball. After Minooka made it a four-point game and then pinned Providence with a punt, the Celtics had a 96-yard drive that took 9 minutes, 51 seconds off the clock. Lagone kept the drive alive twice on third down — once on a 15-yard pass and again on a 12-yard scramble. He capped it with an 8-yard touchdown pass to Brandon Denier.

"They had momentum going into the half and coming out of the half," Providence coach Mark Coglianese said. "That drive kind of took the air out of them. After that, I think they were done."

Player of the game: Dominic Lagone, Providence, 168 total yards, 3 TDs.